World

Syrian rebel official says government has agreed to free 500 prisoners

BEIRUT - Rebels have reached an agreement with the Syrian government for it to release 500 prisoners who will then cross into rebel territory on Friday as part of a swap deal between the warring sides, a rebel official told Reuters.

Mohamad Abu Zeid, a spokesman for the Ahrar al-Sham faction, said negotiations had concluded and the prisoners would arrive in a rebel-held area outside Aleppo city "within hours". REUTERS